​​​​​​​East End Residents Without Covid Symptoms Asked to Get Tested

Published: 1 April 2021

People living and working around Parkhead, Tollcross and Barrowfield who have no Covid-19 symptoms are being encouraged to get tested at a new Asymptomatic Centre at the Forge Shopping Centre.

Those without symptoms are being asked to #test4Glasgow because you can feel fine, yet still have the virus and be infectious - so could spread it to loved ones and other people without realising.

A new Asymptomatic Testing Centre will open in car park D of the Forge Shopping Centre on Saturday (April 3rd). It will be staffed by the Scottish Ambulance Service and have capacity to conduct around 400 PCR tests a day. Appointments will be available seven days a week from 10am to 5pm. They should be booked (from 6pm the evening before) via the NHS Inform website.

People will be able to walk or drive through the new East End testing centre which follows in the footsteps of two asymptomatic testing facilities at Govanhill Neighbourhood Centre and Glasgow Central Mosque in the Gorbals. Great support from neighbouring communities saw both these facilities become the busiest in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. Tests at both centres detected positive cases amongst people who didn't know they had Covid and were infectious. These people went on to self-isolate, preventing further spread of the virus in Glasgow.

The Govanhill testing centre will close tomorrow (Friday April 2nd) and the Gorbals testing centre will close on Saturday, April 3rd. It is now hoped that East End residents without symptoms will now come forward to get tested and help stop the spread of the virus in the city.

Annemarie O'Donnell, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Council, said: "Huge thanks to everyone who volunteered for asymptomatic tests in the Gorbals and Govanhill. Support from the local communities was outstanding - making both centres the busiest in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Positive cases were picked up and further infection prevented which is great news for the city.

"More centres will continue to be set up around the city when needed and I'd encourage people without symptoms who live or work in Parkhead, Tollcross and Barrowfield to book tests at the Forge from Saturday. By getting testing, you'll be doing your bit to help fight the pandemic. And if infection levels drop, hopefully restrictions can continue to be eased. Please test4Glasgow."

Dr Linda de Caestecker, Public Health Director for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: "We know that COVID-19 is often spread by people who don't have symptoms or they are so mild they do not recognise they have the infection. 

"Asymptomatic testing enables identification of infection so that people are not spreading the infection to their families, work colleagues or the wider community as they go shopping or exercising. This has the potential to reduce spread overall. Please come forward for testing to help reduce transmission of the virus in this area. The centre will also give advice about support for isolation for people with a positive test."

The Parkhead testing centre will be in place until 21st May from Saturday and can be accessed off the roundabout at the car park's Biggar Street entrance (by the petrol station). People who test positive will have to self-isolate for 10 days (or longer if fever persists). Anyone asked to self-isolate who needs support, can phone the National Assistance Helpline (0800 111 4000) or textphone (0800 111 4114) from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. The helpline can also advise people about eligibility for the Self-Isolation Support Grant.

Book your appointment from 6pm the evening before by clicking the option stating you've been asked to book a test by the council and public health officials at NHSinform.scot/test-and-protect

Free testing continues to be available to anyone with Covid symptoms. Anyone with a fever, new continuous cough or loss of / change in taste or smell should isolate straight away and book a test at NHSinform.scot/test-and-protect or by calling 0800 028 2816.